MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CROP PROTECTION Program Offered at University of Nairobi

Agriculture is the main economic activity in Kenya, with horticulture being a major foreign exchange earner. The export of high-value and labour intensive horticultural commodities, such as fruits, vegetables and ornamentals play a key role in foreign exchange earnings. However, for the country to fully benefit from international trade opportunities the produce must comply with international standards and the import requirements of the importing countries. Increased access to international markets creates wealth at all levels, from macro-economic growth to poverty reduction both at individual and family levels. At production level, the major challenge is to reduce crop losses from diseases, pests and weeds while safeguarding the environment and a large proportion of crop production expenses go to crop protection activities. As a result of market liberalization, different types of pesticides, crop products and planting materials are imported into the country. This calls for stringent measures to curb entry of insect pests, diseases, noxious and invasive weeds that are capable of destroying various crop enterprises and the environment.

1.      Acquire knowledge and skills to offer advisory services in all matters related to crop and environmental protection.

2.      Design and execute research programmes aimed at solving crop and environmental protection problems.

3.      Collect, analyse, interpret and present data in crop and environmental protection experiments.

4.      Acquire competence in pesticide safe handling, usage, disposal and monitoring their fate in the environment.

5.      Manage crop and environmental protection issues including integrated pest and disease management (IPDM) and other environmentally safe procedures.

6.      To acquire entrepreneurial skills for use in creating employment opportunities.

1.      A holder of a degree with at least Upper Second Class Honours in Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Botany and Zoology, Environmental Sciences, Forestry, Horticulture or related plant science degree or Bachelor of Education in Science with botany and Zoology option and any other relevant subject from the University of Nairobi or any other institution recognized by Senate.

2.      A holder of a degree with at least Lower Second Class Honours in any of the disciplines specified in 1 above with two years of relevant experience or a postgraduate diploma in 1 above or equivalent from the University of Nairobi or any other institution recognized by Senate.

3.      A holder of a pass degree in the disciplines specified 2.1 above with at least five years work experience in agricultural related field.

Course units

Plant Mycology and Bacteriology

Plant Virology and Nematology.

Crop Disease Epidemiology and Management

Vertebrate and Invertebrate Crop Pests

Weed Science and Management

Pest Management and Applied Pesticide Science

Biometrics for Agricultural Sciences

Environ. Protection and Mgt.

Bio technology and Molecular Tech.

Entrepreneurship in agriculture

Phytosanitary Legislation, Regulations and Standards

Research Methods and Scientific Communication

Thesis

The University of Nairobi is a world-class university committed to scholarly excellence. University of Nairobi mission is to provide quality university education and training and to embody the aspirations of the Kenyan people and the global community through creation, preservation, integration, transmission and utilization of knowledge.

The University of Nairobi is ... read more